Frankly speaking, Lakhorn Niyeay used to be the most popular type of entertainment before Pol Pot Regime in Cambodia which destroyed everything including life of most radio host and artists. Among them, Huy Meas (フイ メアス or ហួយ មាស រាជធីតាវោហារមាស សំឡេងរនាតឯក ) was so famous with the strong tiny sweet voice as you could listen to her voice in this Lakhorn Niyeay Khmer - Kompong Thom Chumrum Chet (コンポントム の心).
At the beginning of this special radio story, you will hear the sweet female voice, known as Neary Phal (Huy Meas). This story covers the life of the rural girl in Kompong Thom Province having a brother as a soldier, Nora. Neary Phal sings very softly that is the sweetest voice from our oldies singer. She is considered to get the golden voice by our older people in her generation. In this story, she expresses the shyness to a man living in her house, but traditionally not allow him to get into her room. Why? Because a man is mostly naughty to woo the girl naturally and that's why the man is not permitted to get into the room or with the girl alone. This could lead to something matters in our society. It does happen as Neay Eysal tries to take advantages of a girl; however, Neary Phal representing the Khmer girl who must protect her dignity following the culture. Next, Neary Phal awakes her youngest brother, Nory, to help her cleaning the house. With this part, the author wants everyone to be hard-working and not to sleep so late since it's the waste of time and the Khmer tradition to prepare the house before Khmer New Year Day. You see! Her parents go to the pagoda since the dawn showing the older people in Cambodia always go to pagoda for our cultural practices. Later, a friend of Nora coming from Phnom Penh with him, Keo Sothea, is so polite to talk more about our hospitality. The author wants to reflect about how each child should be educated about the good manner to welcome the guest! One part on the top of Phnom Sontuk revealing the true conversation between Sothea and Neary Phal about the reality in Khmer society from that generations to present. I do love this story and how our oldies artists perform with the best talent that no one could cover now! I do wish to have such kind of Huy Meas's voice! She is so talent! This Lakhorn Niyeay is so educational to all Khmer people that is worth to be valued and preserved!
In short, this story is the best one for all generations to learn about life preparation in term of our tradition and culture. Similarly, those oldies artists including Huy Meas is so talent to leave us the best records to listen. We, Cambodian, must preserve the best entertainment reflecting the core value of our society.
By: POK Panhavuth
